Cornuses

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of deciduous shrub or small tree known for its hard wood and often colorful stems, belonging to the genus characterized by species such as dogwoods
2. Woody plants that typically have opposite leaves, clusters of small flowers, and fruit resembling drupes, common to the botanical group widely cultivated for ornamental and ecological purposes
3. Members of a genus encompassing various species with distinctive bark and flower arrangements, valued in landscaping and wildlife habitats for their aesthetic and environmental benefits

Etymology: "Cornuses" is simply the plural of "cornus", the genus name for the dogwoods. The genus name itself was borrowed from Latin "cornus", the word the Romans used for the cornel or cornelian cherry tree, whose wood was prized for spears and whose small red fruit was eaten. Botanists adopted the Latin form directly as a scientific name, so the plant family's label is a classical word carried into modern taxonomy. The English plural "cornuses" follows the ordinary pattern for Latin-derived nouns that have been anglicized, with the familiar -es ending added to form the plural.

Synonyms: dogwoods